Aa
Anal wart or skin tag?
Hi. 29yo male here. Known health conditions: Scleritis, hemorhoids, and the matter at hand- possible anal warts.
About 6 or 7 years ago, I got hemorrhoids a few times. Within that same year, I had 3 sexual experiences (all one-timers) that involved penis-anus contact, though one was not penetration, just contact of the outer area. Before that, I had not had any sort of anus-penis contact ever. Not long after all this, I woke up one morning to a very itchy anus that had a couple of growths on it. I immediately freaked out, mainly scared bc one of the guys (the no penetration guy) was well, a stranger. I went to a city clinic where I was diagnosed with anal warts. There was no test however, just physical examination, and I always felt like the NP who diagnosed me was.... sketchy. She was weird and kind of mean, kind of eager to diagnose me and well- really she just intimidated me and shamed me. And I'm not overly sensitive. She also told me she couldn't treat me for whatever reason and sent me on my way. So I lived for years with this condition, and the warts, if that's what they really are never changed and never were hard or cauliflower shaped or discolored or anything. It's basically like two flaps of skin around my anus. They are both sort of segmented, but are not flat or clustered.
Anyway, I recently (about 4 months ago) got up the gumption to go to another clinic, where I, under the assumption that I had GW, asked for treatment for them. The NP did, again, perform a visual inspection, but that was it. She gave me a rx for Aldara which I used for several weeks (up to the max recommended time) with no change except pain and redness, a little bleeding.
Recently, my boyfriend was having some bowel trouble, and just to see what I could find I was googling possible causes and wound up coming across some pages and pictures of anal skin tags- and that's really what my condition looks like. I don't think I mentioned my hemorrhoids to either NP, but I'm sure I mentioned the sexual history recent to their appearance.
I found out about the vinegar test, which, I know, is known for false positives- but I tried it- 3 times- and never got a positive result. I know it is usually safe to say that if a professional diagnoses you with something, they're probably right. And I don't put much stock in self-diagnosing from google. But is it possible I was misdiagnosed? Could I have been living with skin tags and thinking they were warts?
Once again, let me express- they are the same color as my anus. They are the same texture. They are sort of segmented, but the segments share a common base. They have remained unchanged for 6+ years. I don't remember them ever being hard or crusty, and no new ones ever developed. Any input would be EXTREMELY appreciated!
About 6 or 7 years ago, I got hemorrhoids a few times. Within that same year, I had 3 sexual experiences (all one-timers) that involved penis-anus contact, though one was not penetration, just contact of the outer area. Before that, I had not had any sort of anus-penis contact ever. Not long after all this, I woke up one morning to a very itchy anus that had a couple of growths on it. I immediately freaked out, mainly scared bc one of the guys (the no penetration guy) was well, a stranger. I went to a city clinic where I was diagnosed with anal warts. There was no test however, just physical examination, and I always felt like the NP who diagnosed me was.... sketchy. She was weird and kind of mean, kind of eager to diagnose me and well- really she just intimidated me and shamed me. And I'm not overly sensitive. She also told me she couldn't treat me for whatever reason and sent me on my way. So I lived for years with this condition, and the warts, if that's what they really are never changed and never were hard or cauliflower shaped or discolored or anything. It's basically like two flaps of skin around my anus. They are both sort of segmented, but are not flat or clustered.
Anyway, I recently (about 4 months ago) got up the gumption to go to another clinic, where I, under the assumption that I had GW, asked for treatment for them. The NP did, again, perform a visual inspection, but that was it. She gave me a rx for Aldara which I used for several weeks (up to the max recommended time) with no change except pain and redness, a little bleeding.
Recently, my boyfriend was having some bowel trouble, and just to see what I could find I was googling possible causes and wound up coming across some pages and pictures of anal skin tags- and that's really what my condition looks like. I don't think I mentioned my hemorrhoids to either NP, but I'm sure I mentioned the sexual history recent to their appearance.
I found out about the vinegar test, which, I know, is known for false positives- but I tried it- 3 times- and never got a positive result. I know it is usually safe to say that if a professional diagnoses you with something, they're probably right. And I don't put much stock in self-diagnosing from google. But is it possible I was misdiagnosed? Could I have been living with skin tags and thinking they were warts?
Once again, let me express- they are the same color as my anus. They are the same texture. They are sort of segmented, but the segments share a common base. They have remained unchanged for 6+ years. I don't remember them ever being hard or crusty, and no new ones ever developed. Any input would be EXTREMELY appreciated!
If you want a doc/someone in the med profession then post to the STD forum, or you can post to the doc STD forum and pay a $20 fee. I have done both and both are great. I do think the doc will tell you the same, that you need a doc to look at you that no one here can tell you for sure. He will prob also say that if two nurses have looked then he would go on what they said. I don't want you to take that as reason not to post. I just have read a lot of postings and with my own experiences. I totally understand how you feel, I have done testing at a clinic twice and it's not a great experience. The last time the nurst gave me a lot of attitude and I felt very judged. I figured if I was in that place day after day I would not be a very nice or happy person either! I swear I strip my clothes off and scrub myself as if I could catch something just from being there.
Good luck with everything!
Good luck with everything!
Thanks for your input, but I am really looking for the help of a professional. I do appreciate your comment, though. As I said- I understand that the word of a professional is usually good. However, I probably did not do I good job conveying the general attitude and professionalism of the first NP, and the second was going off of my word that I had been previously diagnosed. I know that people at city clinics are used to seeing all kinds of people and it is their job to treat them all as best as they can, but I honestly got the feeling that I may have been judged before I was even examined and it's been so long that I can't do a good job of describing the situation- but I really felt scorned for my sexual orientation, and I wonder if that could have been a factor in her diagnosis.Realistically speaking the chances of me actually having picked up an STD of any sort were really astronomically slim- though I understand it doesn't mean they were null. Any professionals have any input?
I would think if two NP's looked and said yes you have GW then you do. I have vaginal warts and at first thought mine looked like skin tags, they were my skin tone and no odd texture. Look at my pics to see. After I started treatment they seemed to look more clustered. It's hard to look at your own parts, I am sure you agree. Def looking at pics online will only scare and confuse. It is very hard to find reg pics of GW's. One factor of why the med wasn't working might be because yours have been there long enough that they will be harder to treat. I read that it is easier to treat new warts. I tried the vinegar test at home, several times and no change. So don't even look at that as being a false negative. Now some people do get common moles and warts in odd places. I would suggest you make an appt. with a dermatologist, find out for sure and get treatment. That will end your stress over the matter. Don't feel ashamed or bad, we all have sex and most of us will get HPV, it is just a common fact in life. :)
You are reading content posted in the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
